Pleated curtain construction



March 12, 1968 M. KALDER PLEATED CURTAIN CONSTRUCTION Filed June 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR M/L70/V KALDE/Q ATTORNEY Margh 12, 1968 M. KALDER 3,372,730

PLEATED CURTAI N CONSTRUCTION Filed June 7, 1965 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENT OR M/ATOIV l'f/MDER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,372,730 PLEATED CURTAIN CONSTRUCTION Milton Kalder, 1333 51st St., Brooklyn, N.Y. 11219 Filed June 7, 1965, Ser. No. 461,623 2 Claims. (Cl. 160-348) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A curtain construction with a plurality of multi-pleated sections containing a short insert member simulating a pleat. The pleated sections are in the heading portion, there being an intermediate folded portion between two flanking pleats and proportioned substantially like the other pleats but extending vertically only the height of the heading, thereby saving material.

This invention relates to curtains, and is particularly directed to pleated constructions thereof.

Curtains or drapes of this category are generally pro vided with headings having a plurality of pinch-pleated sections-most commonly with triple pleats--tl1e pleats merging into folds extending downwardly for the full vertical length of the curtain. While it is regarded as aesthetically attractive to have closely spaced triple-pleated heading portions, such arrangements in conventional constructions-necessarily having full curtain-length folds for each of the pleatsrequire the use of large amounts of material. Since the materials employed in drapes with pleated headings and full-length folds are generally of relatively high quality, the cost of such drapes is often prohibitively high. It is an important objective of this invention to reduce the cost of curtain constructions of this category.

More specifically, it is an object of my invention to reduce the amount of material in drapes with multiple pleated headings by the expedient of substituting separate insert members at each pleated section of the heading in place of the drape material, thereby to reduce the amount of the material conventionally necessary for drapes for a given wall or window width, yet maintaining the desired multiple-pleat full-fold effect.

It is a further object of my invention, in a certain form thereof, to apply to each pleated heading section an insert member having a pleat configuration similar to the pleats that are integral with and formed from the drape material, the application being effected in a manner to maintain the insert member in substantially fixed relation to the adjacent pleats of the same section.

Another object of my invention, in certain other embodiments thereof, is to provide insert members adapted not only to replace some of the drape material, but also to fill out certain of the looped pleats, thereby to add the appearance of fullness to the pleated sections.

Still another object of this invention in certain of the above-referred-to forms thereof is additionally to provide firm anchoring means for the traverse hooks, thereby not only reducing the danger of the hooks pulling out, but also obviating the danger of damage to the material of the drapes and the stitching thereof.

And it is within the contemplation of this invention to provide relatively simple, readily fabricated and inexpensive means for accomplishing the objectives abovementioned.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary plan view of a curtain heading construction according to one form of my invention showing the components in unattached position.

FIG. 2 is a view like FIG. 1 but showing the components operatively attached.

ICC

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary front and top perspective View of the curtain of FIG. 2.

FIG, 4 is a fragmentary front and side perspective view of the curtain construction of FIGS. 2 and 3.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary disassemble-d perspective view of the components of another embodiment of my invention.

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary front and top perspective view of the components of FIG. 5 shown in assembled relation.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary rear View of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary section of FIG. 7 taken substantially along line 8-8.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary front and top perspective view of a curtain with a plurality of pleated sections according to the construction shown in FIGS. 6 to 8.

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side view of the curtain con struction of FIGS. 6 to 8, showing a curtain hook supported by a traverse rod and attached to the insert members constituting components of said construction.

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary top view of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary rear and top perspective view showing another form of this invention.

In the form of my invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the curtain generally designated 15 comprises the upper heading portion 16 and the body portion 17 which extends downwardly for the full length of the curtain. Along the entire width of the heading are a plurality of spaced pleat sections each comprising a plurality of portions folded into adjacent pleats, FIGS. 1 to 4 showing one such section generally designated 18. In the embodiment illustrated in these figures, there are two pleats or bights 19 and 20 integral with and formed from the material of the laterally opposite planar sections 21 and 22, respectively, of the heading 16, said pleats 19 and 20 being at times hereinafter referred to as integral pleats. Positioned between the said pleats 19 and 26 is the false pleat or bight insert 23, this being of a vertical length substantially equal to the predetermined vertical height of the heading portion 16. This height is determined, as shown in the illustrations, by the manner of forming and attaching the said pleat insert 23, the latter consisting of a vertically folded sheet of the curtain material forming the two folded walls 24 and 24a, the front fold 25, and the base portion 26 comprising the adjacent rear edge portions 26a and 26b. This pleat insert 23 is positioned, as shown in FIG. 1, between the pleats 19 and 20 with the said base portion 26 adjacent the base fold 14 defining the juncture between the integral pleats 19 and 20. The arrangement is such that said base fold l4 and the said base portion 26 of the insert 23 are positioned between the opposing folds 29 and 30 of the said respective planar sections 21 and 22. Thereafter the three pleats 19, 20 and 23 are secured together by the vertical line of stitching 27 and the horizontal line of stitching 28, the latter defining the bottom of the heading portion 16. The said stitching extends through and connects the three said pleats so that together they form the well-defined triplepleat section 18.

The three components of said pleat section 18 are in mutually fixed relation at their bases, that is, at their rearrnost portions in the region of the said vertical line of stitching 27, the latter being adjacent the said opposing folds 29 and 30 of the respective planar sections 21 and 22, the arrangement being such as to provide a stable pleated formation with said folds 29 and 30 in spaced relation. Extending down from the pleats 19 and 26 along the entire vertical length of the curtain are the folds 19a and 20a, and since these are in parallel adjacent relation they provide the desired fold fullness even without the usual middle fold of conventional constructions. Hence the said pleat insert 23, without detracting from the appearance of the body of the curtain, provides the heading section with the desirable triple-pleat appearance, and also serves to effect a considerable saving in curtain material-an amount equal to the combined width of the walls 24 and 24a of the insert multiplied by the vertical height of the curtain below the heading section 16, multiplied by the number of pleat sections 18 embodied in the entire width of the curtain.

In the form of my invention shown in FIGURES to 11, the heading portion 31 contains a plurality of spaced pleat sections 32 (FIG. 9), each section comprising a plurality of integral pleats 33, 34 and 35 and two inserts 36 and 37, the latter being preferably strips of bendable semi-stiff material like felt. These strips are proportioned to fit into the respective laterally opposite pleats 33 and 35 and extend partially rearwardly from the planar sections 38 and 39, the rearwardly extending portions 36a and 37a being in mutual engagement along the plane 49 (FIGS. 6 and 7). A vertical line of stitching 41 extends through the base or rearmost portions of said pleats 33 and 35 and through both of said inserts 36 and 37, maintaining them in compressed position between the opposing folds 42 and 43 of said respective planar sections 38 and 39. The horizontal line of stitching 41a is preferably applied below the bottom edge of the inserts, thereby providing what in effect are pockets for the inserts.

The interposition of said insert portions 36a and 37a between the said folds 42 and 43 of the heading fabric reduces the amount of material for each pleat section by the combined thickness of said insert portions 36a and 37a since, without said inserts, the said two folds 42 and 43 would have to be brought into contiguous relation thereby requiring that the planar sections, such as sections 38a and 3% (FIG. 9), be of correspondingly greater widths. If each insert were A1" thick, the material saving for each pleat section 32 (with two such inserts) would be /2 multiplied by the entire vertical length of the curtain. It is evident that for a curtain of say fifteen pleat sections the savings in material would be substantial; and for manufacturers of curtains on a mass production basis the annular dollar savings would be considerable.

It is noteworthy that the use of the two inserts 36 and 37 serves to fill the internal space of the pleats 33 and 35, thereby giving them a fuller appearance and serving also to maintain them in their attractive full configuration.

Another important function of said inserts 36 and 37 is to serve as receptacles or anchoring means for the hook 44, as shown in FIGS. and 11. Each of such hooks, operatively supported in known manner by the traverse rod 45, has its pin portion 46 extending into the body of one or both of the rearwardly extending insert portions 36 and 37a. This arrangement not only provides a firmer and more secure attachment for the hooks, but also obviates the danger of multilating the curtain fabric and severing the pleat stitching-a danger that is always present in conventional constructions.

The embodiment shown in FIG. 12 is a simplified version of my invention. In this construction the insert comprises a single strip 47 positioned between the opposing folds 48 and 49 of the respective planar sections 50 and 51, the most forward portion 47a extending to and being in abutment with the rear of the middle pleat 53 flanked by the pleats 54 and 55. Here, as in the last form above described, the insert saves, for each multiple-pleat section, an amount of material equal to thickness of the insert multiplied by the vertical length of the curtain. Here also the rearwardly extending portion 47b of the insert is 4 adapted to receive the pin portion of a curtain hook, like hook 44 and substantially as illustrated in FIGS. 10 and 11.

In the above description, the invention has been disclosed merely by way of example and in preferred manner; but obviously many variations and modifications may be made therein. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not limited to any form or manner of practicing same, except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a pleated curtain construction of the class having a heading portion containing a pleated section flanked by two planar sections with two opposing folds constituting the junctures of said respective planar sections and said pleated section, the combination of said sections and an insert member, said pleated section comprising at least two laterally opposite folded pleats integral with said heading portion, said insert member being positioned adjacent said laterally opposite pleats and between said opposing folds, said opposing folds being in spaced relation, and means securing together said insert member and portions of said laterally opposite pleats immediately adjacent said opposing folds, whereby the latter are maintained in spaced relation, said insert member comprising two strips of flexible semi-stiff material with forward portions extending into said two laterally opposite pleats respectively, the rear portions of said strips being in abutment and extending rearwardly beyond said planar sections, said rearwardly extending portions of said insert member and the rear portions of said laterally opposite pleats being operatively secured together.

2. In a pleated curtain construction of the class having a heading portion containing a pleated section flanked by two planar sections with two opposing folds constituting the junctures of said respective planar sections and said pleated section, the combination of said sections and an insert member, said pleated section comprising at least two laterally opposite folded pleats integral with said heading portion, said insert member being positioned adjacent said laterally opposite pleats and between said opposing folds, said opposing folds being in spaced relation, and means securing together said insert member and po tions of said laterally opposite pleats immediately adjacent said opposing folds, whereby the latter are maintained in spaced relation, said insert member comprising two strips of flexible semi-stiff material with forward portions extending into said two laterally opposite pleats respectively, the rear portions of said strips being in abutment and extending rearwardly beyond said planar sections, said rearwardly extending portions of said insert member and the rear portions of said laterally opposite pleats being secured together by a vertical line of stitching substantially parallel to said spaced opposing folds, a substantially horizontal line of stitching securing together said laterally opposite pleats below said insert member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,115,593 4/1938 Strube 112-427 X 2,609,873 9/1952 Falkenberg 348 2,822,869 2/1958 Shayman 160348 2,996,117 8/1961 Roberts 160348 3,027,938 4/1962 Lepow 160348 DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Primary Examiner.

P. C. KANNAN, Assistant Examiner. 

